UTI vs Cystitis

Published

Ok I'm confused is Cystitis caused from a UTI or can a UTI be caused from a Cystitis?? Someone please explain:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Cystitis is used as a classification and the specific location of a UTI

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Cystitis is bladder information and most of the time it is caused by a UTI, but not always.

So techincally you can have cystitis with or without a UTI and a UTI with or without cystitis.

Mayo clinic describes it pretty well.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cystitis/DS00285

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care.

Isn't cystitis itself actually a UTI? A lower UTI, correct? Cystitis meaning in the bladder? As you work your way up its still a UTI, just named differently based on its location. Cystitis a lower UTI (in the bladder), pyelonephritis an ascending UTI (moving upwards up the ureters) and glomerulonephritis which is located in the kidneys. And my understanding is symptoms become worse as the move upwards... Am I at least partially right? lol we just tested on this and I didnt miss a single renal question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it depends on what type of cystitis you are referring to. I believe that bacterial cystitis is related to UTI's. There are non infectious forms of cystitis as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.
Isn't cystitis itself actually a UTI? A lower UTI, correct? Cystitis meaning in the bladder? As you work your way up its still a UTI, just named differently based on its location. Cystitis a lower UTI (in the bladder), pyelonephritis an ascending UTI (moving upwards up the ureters) and glomerulonephritis which is located in the kidneys. And my understanding is symptoms become worse as the move upwards... Am I at least partially right? lol we just tested on this and I didnt miss a single renal question.

"itis" refers to inflammation so cystitis is inflammation of the bladder. Most if the time it is infection causing the inflammation but not always. Same for kidneys, there are other causes of inflammation of the kidneys other then infection.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC / Rehab / Wound Care.
ok i'm confused is cystitis caused from a uti or can a uti be caused from a cystitis?? someone please explain:confused:

cystitis can sometimes cause a uti bit the main difference is cystitus is bladder irritation without bacteria present, uti has to have bacteria present that responds to antibiotics. cystitis doesn't respond to antibiotics. very offen cranberry supplements are prescribed for cystitus.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care.
cystitis can sometimes cause a uti bit the main difference is cystitus is bladder irritation without bacteria present, uti has to have bacteria present that responds to antibiotics. cystitis doesn't respond to antibiotics. very offen cranberry supplements are prescribed for cystitus.:nurse:

okay, but i thought cystitis did in fact have bacteria, and interstitial cystitis had all the same symptoms but the only difference was that bacteria was not present.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is general term used to describe an infection anywhere along the pathway in which urine is created, stored, or travels - this can include the kidneys (pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis), or urethra (urethritis).

In this way, a UTI doesn't necessarily "cause" anything. It's more of a term to describe/classify, like illuminati88 said.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also noting the age of the thread but just thought it would be good to correct the comment stating cystitis is in the bladder, pylo in the ureters, and glomerulo in the kidneys.

Pylonephritis is actually inflamed kidney(s) and glomerulonephritis is damaged glomeruli from an autoimmune reaction in pediatric patients. While technically the glomeruli are in the kidney, glomerulonephritis is not a true kidney infection in the sense being discussed here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 12/14/2014 at 2:18 PM, mrsboots87 said:

Also noting the age of the thread but just thought it would be good to correct the comment stating cystitis is in the bladder, pylo in the ureters, and glomerulo in the kidneys.

Pylonephritis is actually inflamed kidney(s) and glomerulonephritis is damaged glomeruli from an autoimmune reaction in pediatric patients. While technically the glomeruli are in the kidney, glomerulonephritis is not a true kidney infection in the sense being discussed here.

Thanks for the input, but from what I see on the Mayo Clinic and the National Kidney Foundation websites, the original info about inflammation locations and corresponding nomenclature is accurate... and I don't see any indication that Glomerulo is specific to peds (except Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis as listed on one of the Mayo sites).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353387

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glomerulonephritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355705

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/glomerul

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion